Material in the public domain. No restrictions on use.
Description
Key Words: Charles “Charlie” Clevenger, growing up in Claremont, Claremont history [Part 1] Katherine Clevenger was the youngest daughter of Claremont’s first police marshal, Charles Clevenger. She and her sister, Elsie, remember what it was like to grow up in Claremont in the early twentieth century. They would often work for other families washing dishes, ironing, or watching children. Kathy and Elsie describe their father and his work as the police marshal. Charlie Clevenger got along with everyone in Claremont, including the Mexican-Americans who were segregated from the majority of Claremont's white citizens. He would ride around Claremont on a bicycle, even after many people in the city began driving cars. Kathy commented, “The best years of my life were growing up in Claremont as a child.” During World War I, the town would gather around the steps of the post office as people would read letters that were sent back from soldiers overseas. She describes the Depression as “severe” for most people in Claremont. [Part 2] Charlie Clevenger moved to Claremont to help build Sumner Hall. He also helped build many of the early homes in the city. She describes her father’s involvement with the Indian community that lived in Claremont for a while and helped clear out the land for many of the citrus groves, including removing the women from their camp. Elsie describes feeling discriminated because she was not the child of a college professor. She and Kathy describe what life was like for people in the early twentieth century. In the early days, people owned horses that they used for traveling long distances. Their family owned a large garden that provided food for them, and their family also had chickens for eggs and a cow for milk. They describe celebrating May Day, Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day.
Type
sound
Format
Master Audio cassette
Form/Genre
Oral histories
Extent
1 Tape of 1
Identifier
caclah_000029
Language
English
Subject
Local history Migrant agricultural laborers Migrant labor Migrant workers Police-community relations--United States World War, 1914-1918
Time Period
1900~/
Place
Claremont (Calif.)
Provenance
Claremont Heritage California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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